When starting a new project, organizing your files and folders properly is crucial for smooth development. One smart way to automate this setup is by using a batch file. A batch file is a simple script that can create multiple directories and files in just a few seconds, saving time and reducing manual errors.

In this article, we’ll show you how to use a batch file to create a complete folder and subfolder structure for a sample project called School Fee Manager, along with empty PHP files.


βœ… What Is a Batch File?

A batch file (.bat) is a text file that contains a series of commands to be executed by the Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe). Developers often use batch files for automating repetitive tasks such as:

  • Creating directories
  • Setting environment variables
  • Running executables
  • Creating multiple files

🎯 Why Use a Batch File for Project Setup?

Using a batch file to create your project’s folder structure has several advantages:

πŸ”Ή 1. Saves Time

Manual creation of multiple folders and files can take minutes. A batch file does it in seconds.

πŸ”Ή 2. Reduces Human Error

Mistyping a folder name or forgetting a required file is common during manual setup. Automation avoids these mistakes.

πŸ”Ή 3. Standardizes Structure

For teams or recurring projects, a consistent folder structure ensures maintainability and collaboration.

πŸ”Ή 4. Easy to Share

You can share your .bat file with team members so they can replicate the exact same structure on their systems.

πŸ”Ή 5. Reusability

Once created, the batch file can be reused for similar projects with minimal changes.


🧾 Example: Batch File to Create Project Folders, Subfolders, and Files

Below is a working batch file script to create the directory and file structure for a project called School Fee Manager:

@echo off

cd /d "%~dp0"
mkdir school_fee_manager
cd school_fee_manager
mkdir assets
mkdir includes
mkdir attendance
mkdir students
mkdir fees

type nul > index.php

cd includes
type nul > config.php
type nul > db_connect.php
type nul > header.php
type nul > footer.php

cd ../attendance
type nul > mark_attendance.php
type nul > report.php
type nul > class_report.php

cd ../students
type nul > add.php
type nul > edit.php
type nul > view.php
type nul > view_all.php

cd ../fees
type nul > due.php
type nul > pay.php
type nul > receipt.php
type nul > payment_history.php
type nul > individual_history.php

echo folders and files has been created
pause

πŸ“‚ Project Structure Created

This script generates the following structure:

school_fee_manager/
β”‚
β”œβ”€β”€ index.php
β”œβ”€β”€ assets/
β”œβ”€β”€ includes/
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ config.php
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ db_connect.php
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ header.php
β”‚   └── footer.php
β”œβ”€β”€ attendance/
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ mark_attendance.php
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ report.php
β”‚   └── class_report.php
β”œβ”€β”€ students/
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ add.php
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ edit.php
β”‚   β”œβ”€β”€ view.php
β”‚   └── view_all.php
└── fees/
    β”œβ”€β”€ due.php
    β”œβ”€β”€ pay.php
    β”œβ”€β”€ receipt.php
    β”œβ”€β”€ payment_history.php
    └── individual_history.php

πŸ“Œ How to Use This Batch File

  1. Open Notepad or any text editor.
  2. Paste the above batch script.
  3. Save the file with a .bat extension, for example: create_project_structure.bat.
  4. Double-click the file to run it.

🏁 Conclusion

Creating folders and files using a batch file is a powerful way to automate your project setup process. Whether you’re working solo or in a team, using a batch script ensures a clean, consistent, and time-efficient start to every new project.

You can modify the structure or filenames to suit other types of web or software projects as needed.

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